The nature of the symbiotic bond between mother and schizophrenic.

Summers, Frank; Walsh, Froma

doi:10.1111/j.1939-0025.1977.tb01255.x

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…This evidence supports the difference between functional overprotectiveness found in most parent-child relationships and a symbiotic relationship characterized by overdependency, disapproval of other relationships, separation difficulties, intrusiveness, and injunctions against achieving personal autonomy (Summers, 1978;Summers & Walsh, 1977). This evidence supports the difference between functional overprotectiveness found in most parent-child relationships and a symbiotic relationship characterized by overdependency, disapproval of other relationships, separation difficulties, intrusiveness, and injunctions against achieving personal autonomy (Summers, 1978;Summers & Walsh, 1977).…”

Section: Symbiosissupporting

confidence: 73%

Personality in Intimate Relationships

Barelds¹

2005

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except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now know or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks and similar terms, even if the are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights.Printed in the United States of America. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 springeronline.com To Peggy, my beautiful wife, best friend, amusing muse, faithful companion, competent collaborator, articulate colleague, unwavering and adamant supporter, and fearless critic, whose nurturing love gave ample space to my work in more ways than one.Preface "Under whatever disciplinary flag, however, someone will always ask how individuals are different from each other, how behavior changes, how people perceive, think, and plan, how people experience reality, and even what might be going on in the regions of the mind usually hidden from view. The basic questions of personality psychology will simply not go away (Funder, 2001, p. 216)."The purpose of this work is to update, expand, examine, and evaluate a developmental, relational, and contextual theory of personality socialization and psychopathology in intimate and nonintimate relationships, family, friends, and other settings, namely: home, school/work, and surplus/leisure time activities (L'). By intimate is meant relationships that are close, committed, interdependent, and prolonged. By close is meant relationships that are bound by emotional, physical, financial, legal, generational, and practical ties. By committed is meant a belief that the relationship will survive and that both partners and family members are involved in it reciprocally and mutually. By interdependent is meant that members of the unit, whatever that unit may be, have to depend on each other for survival and enjoyment. By prolonged is meant relationships that have been preserved and have survived the passage and test of time. By the same token, nonintimate relationships are distant, spatially and temporally, uncommitted, by blood, or by any other means, short-lived and superficial, where other relationships are available to satisfy dependency needs. Closeness, commitment, interdependence, and prolongation in no way imply the level of functionality in a relationship. Satisfaction in a relationship may well be independent from those four characteristics. One could be close, committed, and interdependent for a prolonged period of vii viii Preface Preface ix commitment, some degree of interdependence, and some degree of prolongation. Whether these four characteristics are necessary and sufficient remains to be seen throughout the pages of this work. Instead of the nuclear family as traditionally conceived, many alternatives and substitutes have assumed the same function, perhaps with a much greater degree of choice an...

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Section: Symbiosissupporting

confidence: 73%

Personality in Intimate Relationships

Barelds¹

2005

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“…Although evidence for genetic determinants exists (3), such factors cannot by themselves explain the appearance of schizophrenia. Previous studies have found evidence that the relationships between each parent and the schizophrenic young adult are markedly different from the relationships between other young adults (both mentally ill and normal) and their parents (10, 11). The mother‐schizophrenic relationship appears to be characterized by a symbiotic bond, whereas the father evinces a failure to accommodate to his schizophrenic offspring.…”

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confidence: 95%

“…The current study attempted to determine the extent of symbiosis and confirmation in the relationship of the parents of the schizophrenic in an objective, verifiable manner. It thus seeks to complement previous reports that attempted this task for the mother‐ and father‐schizophrenic dyads (10, 11). By measuring the degree to which the characteristics previously found in the mother‐ and father‐ schizophrenic dyads obtain in the mother‐father relationship, the current study completes a systematic investigation of the degree of differentiation in the family system of the schizophrenic.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These observations suggest that the relationship between the parents of the schizophrenic may be marked by a rigidity of expectations. Furthermore, previous reports of the mother‐schizophrenic and father‐schizophrenic dyads (10, 11) raise the question of the extent of fusion and recognition of differences in the mother‐father relationship. The evidence previously reported concerning this relationship would fit with a symbiotic, nonconfirming relationship but do not necessarily imply that such is the case.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following the previous studies (10, 11), the concepts of symbiosis and confirmation were operationalized into testable component variables and measured on both projective tests and interviews. Mothers and fathers were investigated with both modes of measurement and compared with two control groups, one consisting of nonschizophrenic mental patients and the other of the parents of normal young adults.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Symbiosis and Confirmation Between the Parents of the Schizophrenic

Summers

Walsh

1981

Family Process

Self Cite

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Parents of schizophrenics (N = 17) were compared with parents of nonschizophrenic hospitalized patients (N = 14) and parents of normals (N = 15) on the degree of symbiotic enmeshment and confirmation of individuality in the parental relationship. Symbiosis was divided into six component variables: undifferentiation, dependency, intervention, disapproval of other relationships, separation difficulty, and injunctions. Confirmation was bifurcated into acknowledgment and accommodation. Projective tests (TAT and Make-A-Picture-Story) and interviews were used to measure both variables. The results suggest that mothers of schizophrenics tend to be symbiotically attached to their husbands and view their husbands as forming the same type of attachment to them. Fathers of schizophrenics do not tend to be symbiotically involved with their wives but fail to confirm them. The implications of the results for the family system of the schizophrenic are discussed.

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Breaching of family generation boundaries by schizophrenics, disturbed, and normals

Walsh

1979

International Journal of Family Therapy

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The nature of the symbiotic bond between mother and schizophrenic.

Cited by 16 publications

References 13 publications

Personality in Intimate Relationships

Personality in Intimate Relationships

Symbiosis and Confirmation Between the Parents of the Schizophrenic

Breaching of family generation boundaries by schizophrenics, disturbed, and normals

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